The Main Arena filled up by 17:30.
Soren sat in the back row. His head still throbbed. But he was here. He'd survived two days of assessment.
Mira sat beside him, her twin blades replaced with a water pouch. "Nervous?"
"Tired?"She took a long drink. "I heard fifth place is mine if my scores hold. Strike Accuracy pulled me up."
"You deserve it."
"So do you." She glanced at him.
Jake dropped into the seat on his other side. His dual heart assessment had finished yesterday, but he'd come to watch the rankings. "You made it through. That's what matters. Don't overthink about results, you will get your chance again in future."
"Tell me that after rankings post."
"Fine. I'll tell you before and after." He grinned. "You're top ten. Maybe top seven. Survival scenario changed everything, i think."
Soren didn't answer. He watched the floor below.
Lyra sat in the front row, her back straight, her black hair pulled tight. She didn't look around. Didn't need to. She knew where she stood.
Zara was three rows ahead, AR display active, her silver eyes scanning data. Calculating. She always calculated.
Marcus Webb sprawled in his seat like he didn't have a care. Wolf DNA confidence. Or maybe he just didn't care about rankings the way others did.
Adrian Reeves sat near the front too. Leopard DNA. Combat family. He'd destroyed Soren in the preliminaries. Now he was quiet, watching the empty platform.
The seats filled. Voices buzzed. Some students looked relieved just to be here. Others looked like they were about to be sick.
At 18:00 sharp, the lights dimmed.
Instructor Vale walked onto the center platform. No introduction. No ceremony.
"Final rankings."
The holographic display lit up behind her. Names scrolled in blue light. The crowd went silent.
**COMBAT ENDURANCE**
1. Lyra Shadowmane
2. Marcus Webb
3. Zara Steelheart
4. Adrian Reeves
5. Helena Ross
...
17. Soren Cross
Soren's jaw tightened. Seventeenth. He'd known it was bad, but seeing the number made it worst.
Mira touched his arm. Quietly. He can feel The warmth of her hand through his clothes
and he doesn't know why but it gave him a little bit assurance and courage.
**STRIKE ACCURACY**
1. Mira Zhang
2. Lyra Shadowmane
3. Adrian Reeves
4. Marcus Webb
5. Soren Cross
Fifth. Better. His speed had paid off there.
**ENHANCEMENT EFFICIENCY**
1. Zara Steelheart
2. Helena Ross
3. Marcus Webb
4. Adrian Reeves
5. David Park
...
12. Soren Cross
Twelfth. He'd expected worse.
**TEAM COORDINATION**
1. Zara Steelheart / Marcus Webb
2. Lyra Shadowmane / Soren Cross
3. Adrian Reeves / Mira Zhang
4. Helena Ross / David Park
5. Sarah Kim / James River
Second place. He and Lyra had worked well together. The score proved it.
**SURVIVAL SCENARIO**
1. Lyra Shadowmane
2. Zara Steelheart
3. Soren Cross
4. Marcus Webb
5. Adrian Reeves
Third.
The crowd murmured. Insect DNA. Third place in survival.
Soren stared at the display. His name was up there. With Lyra. With Zara.
Jake whistled low. "Damn."
The display shifted. Combined scores began calculating. Names moved up and down as the algorithm weighed each test.
Eighth place. Seventh. Ninth.
The list stabilized.
**FINAL MONTHLY ASSESSMENT RANKINGS**
1. Lyra Shadowmane
2. Zara Steelheart
3. Marcus Webb
4. Adrian Reeves
5. Mira Zhang
6. Helena Ross
7. David Park
8. Sarah Kim
9. James River
10. Soren Cross
Tenth.
Again.
Vale's voice cut through the murmurs. "Top ten have earned advanced training privileges. Priority mission selection. Enhanced resource access."
She scanned the crowd. Her eyes found Soren.
"Cross."
He stood. The seats creaked around him.
"You're the first insect DNA user to place in survival scenario top three. Ever."
The arena went quiet.
"Don't waste it."
She moved on. Started listing other achievements. Other names. Other numbers of the top 10 ranked students.
Soren sat down.
Jake elbowed him. "First insect DNA in survival top three. That's—"
"It's tenth place."
"It's top ten. In your first assessment." Jake shook his head. "Read the room, man."
Mira leaned past Jake. "I got fifth. You got tenth. Two insect DNA users in top ten. That's never happened."
Soren looked at the display again. Mira Zhang, fifth. Soren Cross, tenth.
Two names. Two insect DNA users. Both in top ten.
The crowd dispersed. Students congratulated each other. Some looked relieved. Some looked like they'd lost something important.
Lyra appeared beside him as he reached the aisle. "Tenth."
"Still tenth."
"You held." Her amber eyes were steady. "That's more than anyone expected."
She left before he could ask what that meant.
Zara passed him on the way out. Didn't stop. Didn't look at him.
But her voice came through his AR a moment later.
**Zara: Your efficiency needs work. Facility D. 06:00. Don't be late.**
He almost smiled.
Mira caught up with him at the exit. "Drinks? Celebration?"
"Can't. Training tomorrow. 06:00."
"Always training." She shook her head. "Fine. Next week. Both insect DNA users in top ten. That deserves a real celebration."
"Next week."
She nodded and disappeared into the crowd.
Soren walked back to his dorm alone.
[Integration: 12%.]
He checked his stats again. Twelve percent. Up from ten. The assessment had pushed him over.
[The families are watching now. Both of them. Your next move determines how they play you.]
I know.
[Good. Then don't let them play you.]
He opened his dorm door. Jake was already there, sprawled on his bed, scrolling through his AR.
"So what's next?" Jake asked without looking up.
Soren sat on his own bed. His body was wrecked. His mind was still spinning. But something had settled in his chest. Something that felt like direction.
"I train. I get stronger. I figure out what comes after."
"After what?"
"After tenth place."
Jake put down his AR. Looked at him. "You're not satisfied with top ten?"
"I'm satisfied with surviving. But I didn't come back from the dead to be tenth place."
Jake was quiet for a moment.He didn't know what he meant but Then he just laughed. "You're insane."
"Probably."
Jake turned back to his AR. "Just don't die before next assessment. I've got money riding on you."
Soren lay back. Closed his eyes.
Tomorrow, training started again. Facility D at 06:00. Zara's efficiency drills. Lyra's combat practice. Vale's advanced sessions. Instructor Torren's footwork. Instructor Hayes's weapons. Instructor Mako's integration control.
His schedule was already filling up.